Explaining why remarriages are at risk for divorce: Exploring the role of communication in remarital relationships

• Main Author: Prado, Lydia Marie
• Format: Dissertation
• Language: English
• Published: ProQuest Dissertations & Theses 01-01-1995
• Subjects: Clinical psychology; Communication; Psychotherapy; Social psychology
• ISBN: 9798209113393

Over 40% of U.S. marriages are remarriages for one or both partners (Coleman & Ganong, 1990). The current study proposed a communication-based explanation for the increased vulnerability of remarriages. The present study examined the proposition that communication deficits reflecting dysfunctional affect regulation, which are associated with marital distress and predictive of marital dissolution (Stanley, Markman, St. Peters & Leber, in press), are transferred from one relationship system to another. It was hypothesized that these transferred communication deficits might put subsequent relationships at risk for distress and dissolution. The contribution of individual difference factors to remarital satisfaction was also explored and a qualitative analysis of remarriage interviews was included. The current study used a longitudinal design and a multi-method assessment of remarital functioning, including interactional measures. The individuals from the longitudinal sample have been involved in a longitudinal research program since before they were married the first time. The current participants have been divorced and are continuing their participation in the longitudinal study as remarried individuals. The major finding of the present study was that significant changes in communication from an individual's first marriage to second marriage were found. Negative communication patterns, as evidenced by a significant negative correlation, changed from first marriage to second marriage. Positive communication increased from first marriage to second marriage on individual as well as dyadic levels. The second husbands/wives of the remarried individuals from the longitudinal study demonstrate different communication patterns from first husbands/wives. However, the mean levels of negative communication and negative escalation remained the same across marriages. A second finding of the present study was that the negative escalation, of all the communication variables, was strongly associated with remarital satisfaction as well as personal dedication and love. Communication was rated as the second most intense problem area by the remarried group. Interestingly, personal dedication is lower in the remarried group than in a once-married control group though both groups report similar levels of marital satisfaction. The implications of these findings are discussed with regard to possible interventions and directions for further research are explored.